TOMMY SLOAN does not believe his Auchinleck Talbot players will crack under the pressure of trying to deliver Super Premier Division title glory for a fifth successive season.

Today’s commencement of the McBookie.com leagues has Talbot on the road to face Arthurlie (whatever happened to the age-old custom of the reigning champions having their first league game at home to unfurl their championship flag?) and a lot of Junior eyes will turn to Dunterlie to see if James Latta & Co can yet again live with the expectations of being tagged title favourites.

An unbeaten six-game run of Ardagh Glass Cup fixtures has served notice of the feelgood factor running through Beechwood Park's home team dressing room, and seasoned boss Tucker admits to being pleased with how the Ayrshire cracks are taking shape to meet the challenges of the next nine months.

Six new signings are already on Talbot’s books – Danny Boyle (Rob Roy), Neil McPherson (Darvel), Dylan Pooler (St Mirren), Grant Drummond (Airdrie) Dylan Stevenson (Morton) and one-time Rangers midfielder Ross Harvey who has come on board after previously playing out in Australia with Inglewood United.

Yet the most successful gaffer currently in the Junior game is not ruling out the possibility of further newcomers.

Last night he insisted: “We set out to bring in fresher, younger players to augment our playing squad but also to provide stronger competition for the jerseys worn by the likes of Latta, Young and White.

“The guys who have been over the course have responded as we thought they might by raising their game and I feel as if the team is in a really good place right now even if I don’t really know what is my best starting line-up as yet.

“All the new guys have shown up well and there’s undoubtedly a greater balance of youth and experience which can only benefit us in the long run.

“Both midfielders, Stevenston who is a powerful type and Harvey performed well in midweek against Troon and it was also encouraging to see Keir Milliken getting back to his best as he’s a very important player.

“The season has started as well as we could have hoped and it’s been satisfying to watch how the players are gelling but nobody at this club … least of all myself … will be resting on our laurels.

“Opposition sides have improved and we have to constantly do the same in order to keep ahead of the pack so the search for players who can strengthen what we already have at Auchinleck will not be stopping any time soon.”

Cornerstone defender Martin McGoldrick and striking ace Mark Shankland are posted missing for today’s trip through to Barrhead while feted hitman Graham Wilson is suspended on account of a recent red-carding against Kello Rovers.

This weakened playing hand is not to Tucker’s liking for what he predicts to be a testing confrontation.

“Points are never easy come by against Arthurlie in their own backyard and I don’t see that situation changing today.” he added.

“The two lads signed from Bo’ness United - Darren Gribben and Ian Nimmo are top-notch players and we will need to be at the top of our game to stand any chance of a result through there.”

Troon’s determination to mount a stronger challenge to Auchinleck’s dominance has led to the signing of highly- rated full-back Ross Barbour from Stranraer and he is included for the difficult to call Portland Park head-to- head with Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Close-fought encounters are also on the cards when Beith host the visit of Cumnock and at Blair Park where Hurlford United's resolve to bounce back from their midweek reverse by Kilbirnie will be tested to the full by a Kilwinning Rangers side determined to atone for a horrible sequence of early-season results.

Bookmakers tip Pollok aim to maintain their unbeaten start to the season away to Glenafton, while one imagines newly-promoted Largs Thistle will be fired up for their visit to Rob Roy.

Meanwhile, no fewer than six all-West Region ties of Central v Ayrshire origin have been pulled from the hat in the draw for the ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup first round.

A keenly-contested showdown is promised by the pairing together of early season form horses Wishaw and Cumnock at The Beltane, while also catching the eye is the meeting of St Roch's and last season’s beaten semi-finalists Kilwinning Rangers at the James McGrory Stadium.

And there was contrasting fortunes for two other city-based clubs, with Vale of Clyde landing home advantage against Aberdeen Sunnybank, however a long trek North awaits Glasgow Perthshire to face Ellon United.

The full draw is Armadale Thistle v Kennoway Star Hearts,Wishaw v Cumnock, Kirrie Thistle v Easthouses Miners Welfare, Whitletts Vics v Buckie Rovers, Ellon Utd v Glasgow Perthshire, Newburgh Thistle v Sauchie, Ardeer Thistle v East Kilbride Thistle, Buchanhaven Hearts v Culter, Thornton Hibs v Dunbar Utd, New Elgin v Dundee North End, Jeanfield Swifts v Lugar Boswell, Livingston v Cruden Bay, Pumpherston v Kirkcaldy Y.M., Saltcoats Vics v Renfrew, West Calder v Stoneywood Parkvale, Vale of Clyde v Aberdeen Sunnybank, Irvine Vics v Newtongrange Star, Newburgh v Hermes, Largs Thistle v Blantyre Vics, Port Glasgow v Whitehills, Lochee Utd v Hurlford Utd, Bo’ness Utd v Bellshill Athletic, Lesmahagow v Irvine Meadow, Haddington Athletic v Troon, Dundee East Craigie v Bathgate Thistle, Broxburn Athletic v Glenafton, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Dundonald Bluebell, Camelon v Whitburn, St Roch's v Kilwinning Rangers, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Banchory St Ternan, Arbroath Vics v Crossgates Primrose. (Ties to be played on Saturday, September 24)

TODAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm)

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Glenafton v Pollok, Beith v Cumnock, Hurlford Utd v Kilwinning Rangers, Rob Roy v Largs Thistle, Troon v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Arthurlie v Auchinleck Talbot.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Blantyre Vics v Cumbernauld Utd, Irvine Meadow v Clydebank, Shotts Bon Accord v Girvan, Yoker Athletic v Irvine Vics, Kilsyth Rangers v Shettleston, Petershill v Maryhill, Rutherglen Glencairn v Renfrew.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Thorniewood Utd v Larkhall Thistle, Lesmahagow v Cambuslang Rangers, Neilston v Forth, Bellshill Athletic v Rossvale, Greenock v Wishaw, Johnstone Burgh v Benburb, St Roch's v Vale of Clyde.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Royal Albert v Port Glasgow, Ashfield v East Kilbride Thistle, St Anthony's v Gartcairn, Dunipace v Vale of Leven, Lanark Utd v Newmains Utd, Carluke Rovers v Glasgow Perthshire.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Darvel v Whitletts Vics, Lugar Boswell v Ardeer Thistle, Annbank Utd v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Craigmark v Saltcoats Vics, Dalry Thistle v Kello Rovers, Maybole v Muirkirk.